Family friend convicted of beating pensioner to death

A man was convicted yesterday of murdering the pensioner Jenny Methven, who was bludgeoned to death in the kitchen of her rural cottage.

William Kean, 46, received a life sentence at the High Court in Glasgow for killing Mrs Methven, 80, in Forteviot, Perthshire, on February 20. The judge, Lord Glennie, ordered him to serve at least 22 years before being eligible to apply for parole. Lord Glennie told Kean: “The brutality of the murder of which you have been convicted of a kindly, active older lady who was a relative of one of your friends means a lengthy sentence must be imposed.” Kean showed no emotion.

Mrs Methven’s son, David, was in court to hear the verdict. Kean, a first-time offender, who had been…